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Maine’s Coast: Ideal for Fun Family Time

Visitors are often amazed at how much there is to do on the water and around Maine’s coastal islands.

Favorite leisure activities are kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and lobstering. A native of coastal Maine, Sarah Yantakosol Gayer is an attorney specializing in admiralty and maritime law. She’s also mom to Grace, 3, and Hope, 5.

Living by the Water

Gayer was born and raised in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, home to the Portland Head Light (the state’s most photographed lighthouse). She says that living on the Maine coast is great because her family is able to enjoy the outdoors in four very distinct seasons.

“My husband is an avid fisherman, so that’s become part of my life. And my girls were exposed to boating and life on the water as soon as their pediatrician cleared them to go out on the boat – right after their six-week visits! They went out in their tiny, tiny life jackets,” says Gayer. “They love it out on the water, and they even have their own fishing rods.”

Sarah Yantakosol Gayer, native of Maine, attorney specializing in admiralty and maritime law, and mom to Grace and Hope

Experience

Island Hopping in Casco Bay

Gayer especially enjoys exploring Casco Bay, near her home. “There are a lot of islands right near Portland. You can go to many of them, and it’s like you’re in a different world. On Peaks Island, you can rent bikes to explore the island. Great Diamond Island is completely different. There are no cars – just golf carts.” She adds that many of the islands are uninhabited, adding a sense of adventure to a day’s outing.

Favorite Getaway Spots

When asked about her favorite places, Gayer is full of ideas. “I love Kennebunkport because it’s a cute coastal village with lots of little local stores. I think what sets it apart is that it has some really amazing restaurants. My favorite would be Earth at Hidden Pond. It’s not at all touristy. The menu is all based on farm to table – almost everything is farmed right there or caught off the coast of Maine.”

Ninety minutes up the coast from Portland is Boothbay Harbor – another favorite of Gayer’s. “What I like most about it is the Maine Botanical Gardens. It’s really beautiful there. Plus a whole part of the garden is just for kids!”

Farther up the coast, near Bar Harbor, is Acadia National Park. “Acadia is wonderful. There are lots of easy hikes, as well as others for real adventurers. There’s a little restaurant called Jordan Pond House that has these amazing popovers. You can also take the ferry from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia, Canada.”